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Racer Fast Taxi Hits Theaters
"If you’re a person who enjoys beautiful girls and thrives on action, you will enjoy this movie."
By DeSean Robinson Walker
I arrived at the Oakridge Theater in San Jose at 6:00pm for the premiere of Tim Story’s latest film, Taxi. With a Jamba Juice in my right hand, and my ticket in my left, I approached the theater to be seated in a special, taped off RSVP section to see Jimmy Fallon post Saturday Night Live (SNL), Queen Latifah in yet another different character role, and the acting debut of the beautiful Brazilian bombshell, Gisele Bündchen.
Taxi begins with an action packed bike race through the streets of New York City with Belle Williams (Queen Latifah) at the handle bars. Belle, a high-octane delivery girl, has just received her cabbie license and is leaving her old job of being a bike messenger behind. Though driving cabs will only be a side job for Belle, it pays the bills and is certainly better than riding bikes all day. Her real dream is to become a Nascar driver. However, the closest she gets to the thrill of driving a racecar is her turbocharged taxi cab, with a body kit that unravels at the press of a button. From the tips of her fingers, Belle could transform her regular yellow cab into a sleek yellow vixen.
But her life changes after she meets New York Cop, Andy Washburn (Jimmy Fallon)- a clumsy, off beat, quirky cop who jumps into her cab for a ride to a bank robbery. Andy’s driver license was recently suspended, and he was reassigned from undercover vice to foot patrol because of his lack of luster behind the wheel.
As they approach the crime scene, Andy and Belle encounter a group of Brazilian bombshells. These meninas aren't your run of the mill poster girls. They’re cold, calculating bank robbers who will stop at nothing to accomplish their mission. The ringleader, Vanessa (Gisele Bündchen), squares off face-to-face with Belle’s souped up Ford Crown Victoria on the streets of New York City. Unfortunately, the Crown Victoria isn't a match for Vanessa's cherry red BMW 760. But that’s not the last time they square off. Belle and Andy team up to try to catch the team of sophisticated bank robbers.
Taxi is a great action film filled with great cinematic chase scenes that puts the viewer in the passenger seat. Director Tim Story provides great action shots while preserving the natural environment in each scene. In some movies, you see scenes removed from their surroundings- devoid of people, life and culture. But, in this movie that isn't the case. You’re able to identify buildings and read signs clearly as they pass by. You have a clear view of the vehicle during the chase. You’re even able to see close-up shots of the wheel, rims- all the details involved in a car chase, which makes you feel as though you're part of it. And, most of the action scenes revolve around the turbocharged taxicab, speeding up and down the streets of Manhattan, which adds to the thrill of the film.
The natural chemistry between Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah is a great plus to the film also. One scene that stands out in my mind is the driving lesson. Latifah’s character is trying to teach Fallon’s character how to unwind while he’s behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. As they get situated, Andy turns on the radio and starts vibin’ with the music. Vibin’ with the music is an understatement- he went buckwild and he was offbeat! When Natalie Cole’s 1975 hit “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)” begins to play, he sings in a high-pitched, off-key voice. Laughter begins to fill the theater, because this man is not only off-key, he’s offbeat! This scene is absolutely hilarious! Needless to say, the singing calms and relaxes Andy enough to allow him operate a moving vehicle.
But I’m sad to say, this scene is about as funny as the film gets. A lot of the comedy is more lighthearted- instead of knocking you out, it’s a sucker-punch. Fallon's jump from SNL to silver screen is fairly recent, so he still retains a lot of his SNL roots- which is quite prevalent in his character. Actually, Fallon’s comedic style reminds me of Ben Stiller because it’s just stupid, but somewhat funny at the same time. Veteran Queen Latifah, who is well known for her various roles in Set It Off, Bringin’ Down the House and Chicago, really doesn’t play on her acting chops as well in this movie. The Queen provided a cool, calm, collected head to balance out Fallon's slow and sometimes quirky behavior.
In all honesty, the screenplay not only lacks comedy, it also lacks real depth. The plot is very simple; hence it doesn't require much acting skill from an actor. Most of the lines and expressions are fairly simple. That’s why Victoria's Secret Brazilian model, Gisele Bündchen, was chosen to play the bad guy. So, Gisele shouldn’t consider this as her star-studded breakthrough in the industry- it didn't take much skill to recite a couple of mediocre lines.
Judging from the reactions of the crowd everyone seemed to enjoy the movie. But, we’re talking about the same crowd who adores American Pie 2 and sleeps through the connection between hip-hop and love in Brown Sugar. If you’re a person who enjoys beautiful girls and thrives on action, you will enjoy this movie. 7.5 out of 10
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